Just to get everyone psyched about the upcoming break even further, I have just received notice that our classroom was exposed to pink eye today. It is communicable, so keep an eye (no pun intended) on your kids!
Keepin' healthy, Mr. B
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Wednesday
Oh man, just one more day until FREEDOM!!! I know that everyone is beside themselves with joy at the prospect of sleeping in, staying up late and enjoying life without the worry of school the following morning. The kids are restless and excited. Yet here, we are...the eve of three substantial quizzes. I have foregone assigning homework tonight in the hopes that kids would take the time to study for tomorrow's "Number the Stars" and Rocks & Minerals tests. (I hate putting book titles in quotes, but there is not a function to underline text on this blog. Me and my bad examples of correct grammar.)
Also, a few parents and students have requested that I assign extra credit opportunities for the spring break. As the break is just a week, and not like the month that we had for winter holiday, I will simply offer the students the chance to pad their reading and language grade by suggesting that a reading log accompany everuone home. I will give extra credit for any number of days that student reads and has their work signed off by a parent. It's only ten extra points, but they are still points that can make a difference between a 'C' and a 'B', or a 'B' and an 'A'.
Just as a side note...apparently there was some confusion last week as to the distributing of the reading log that I was to collect tomorrow. Our sub did not actually hand them out, but rather told the kids to pick them up on the way out. So while the work was implied, it was not explicitly assigned. Now while I would like to think that the kids would be responsible enough to pick up the work before leaving, we all know that that isn't going to necessarily happen. So, with that in mind, if kids did pick up the work and complete it, they can turn it in for credit tomorrow. If they did not pick one up, I will not count the work against them. So look at that...two extra credit opportunities right there.
Remember, I will be sending home progress reports and Accelerated Reader results for the trimester on Monday, April 16th.
Enjoy your break, Mr. B
Also, a few parents and students have requested that I assign extra credit opportunities for the spring break. As the break is just a week, and not like the month that we had for winter holiday, I will simply offer the students the chance to pad their reading and language grade by suggesting that a reading log accompany everuone home. I will give extra credit for any number of days that student reads and has their work signed off by a parent. It's only ten extra points, but they are still points that can make a difference between a 'C' and a 'B', or a 'B' and an 'A'.
Just as a side note...apparently there was some confusion last week as to the distributing of the reading log that I was to collect tomorrow. Our sub did not actually hand them out, but rather told the kids to pick them up on the way out. So while the work was implied, it was not explicitly assigned. Now while I would like to think that the kids would be responsible enough to pick up the work before leaving, we all know that that isn't going to necessarily happen. So, with that in mind, if kids did pick up the work and complete it, they can turn it in for credit tomorrow. If they did not pick one up, I will not count the work against them. So look at that...two extra credit opportunities right there.
Remember, I will be sending home progress reports and Accelerated Reader results for the trimester on Monday, April 16th.
Enjoy your break, Mr. B
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Tuesday
I am keeping homework light this week in preparation for the Spring Break. Students are responsible for the following work tonight:
-Reading Log (still collecting on Thursday)
-Math 102, a-j & 15 - 30
Thursday brings us our rocks & minerals exam. The exam will cover pages B34 - B53 in our science text. We will be experimenting with the streak property of minerals on Wednesday.
Thanks to those of you who quickly donated to the auction basket fund.
Respectfully, Mr. B
-Reading Log (still collecting on Thursday)
-Math 102, a-j & 15 - 30
Thursday brings us our rocks & minerals exam. The exam will cover pages B34 - B53 in our science text. We will be experimenting with the streak property of minerals on Wednesday.
Thanks to those of you who quickly donated to the auction basket fund.
Respectfully, Mr. B
Monday, April 2, 2007
Monday and notes on the week
Students are responsible for the following work tonight:
-Reading Log (will be collected on Thursday)
-Math 101, 1-15
-Number the Stars vocabulary, section 3 (quiz on Thursday)
Red folders went home for the first time in three weeks today. Thanks everyone again for your patience with my recovery. Please pay attention to the notices that were included in the Red Folders today, especially from the Eatons and Scotts regarding the gift basket for the Golf Tounament and Auction in May. The papers you will have received today are current and reflect work up to this past Friday. California tests were miserable, which was really quite disappointing. I practically spoon-fed the answers to the kids on Thursday when we spent over an hour playing Jeopardy as a review. On a positive note, the Number the Stars quizzes were excellent. Even math scores were improved!
Thursday of this week will be heavy with assessments. We will be finishing up rocks and minerals on Wednesday and testing on Thursday. Students will also be quizzed on this week's chapters from Number the Stars, from the reading vocabulary and on the chapter 5 reading theme test. Please make sure that your children are at school on Thursday. Spring Break doesn't start until Friday folks. From these assessments I will be compiling progress reports over the Spring Break to send home the week we return to class.
If folks are feeling generous, the Discovery Channel store is taking pre-order for the Planet Earth dvd series. A little bird told me that the class would seriously dig having the set for reference, etc.
Respectfully, Mr. B
-Reading Log (will be collected on Thursday)
-Math 101, 1-15
-Number the Stars vocabulary, section 3 (quiz on Thursday)
Red folders went home for the first time in three weeks today. Thanks everyone again for your patience with my recovery. Please pay attention to the notices that were included in the Red Folders today, especially from the Eatons and Scotts regarding the gift basket for the Golf Tounament and Auction in May. The papers you will have received today are current and reflect work up to this past Friday. California tests were miserable, which was really quite disappointing. I practically spoon-fed the answers to the kids on Thursday when we spent over an hour playing Jeopardy as a review. On a positive note, the Number the Stars quizzes were excellent. Even math scores were improved!
Thursday of this week will be heavy with assessments. We will be finishing up rocks and minerals on Wednesday and testing on Thursday. Students will also be quizzed on this week's chapters from Number the Stars, from the reading vocabulary and on the chapter 5 reading theme test. Please make sure that your children are at school on Thursday. Spring Break doesn't start until Friday folks. From these assessments I will be compiling progress reports over the Spring Break to send home the week we return to class.
If folks are feeling generous, the Discovery Channel store is taking pre-order for the Planet Earth dvd series. A little bird told me that the class would seriously dig having the set for reference, etc.
Respectfully, Mr. B
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Thursday and math info.
Students are responisble for the following material tonight:
-Reading Log
-California study guide pages 56 & 57
Students are responisble for turning in a great deal of material on Friday for grading. Work that is due includes:
Biography / autobiography reports, reading practice book and California practice book.
Many of you have expressed a concern for your child's math grades. The curriculum that we are using this year is complex. It is mixture of fourth and fifth grade material and is challenging. As I mentioned earlier in the year, this current book is one of two programs that we use during the course of our studies. We are currently in the final 20 lessons of this book, and will finish the book by the end of April. The last third of the book is difficult and I expect the kids to struggle. As we transition into the second book, the kids will find the material too easy. The last month of school, roughly May to mid June, will be review of what we have accomplished with math thus far. I will pepper the instruction with more fifth grade material, but will generally use the time to reinforce and reteach what we have learned so far. Please be patient. It takes a while to hone math skills.
Respectfully, Mr. B
-Reading Log
-California study guide pages 56 & 57
Students are responisble for turning in a great deal of material on Friday for grading. Work that is due includes:
Biography / autobiography reports, reading practice book and California practice book.
Many of you have expressed a concern for your child's math grades. The curriculum that we are using this year is complex. It is mixture of fourth and fifth grade material and is challenging. As I mentioned earlier in the year, this current book is one of two programs that we use during the course of our studies. We are currently in the final 20 lessons of this book, and will finish the book by the end of April. The last third of the book is difficult and I expect the kids to struggle. As we transition into the second book, the kids will find the material too easy. The last month of school, roughly May to mid June, will be review of what we have accomplished with math thus far. I will pepper the instruction with more fifth grade material, but will generally use the time to reinforce and reteach what we have learned so far. Please be patient. It takes a while to hone math skills.
Respectfully, Mr. B
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Wednesday
Howdy all. What a pleasant first day back. I am sure that the kids will have stories to tell about our classroom scandal.
I handed out the conference forms for the students' biography reports today. I completely neglected to leave them with the sub, but the kids still have an ample amount of time to complete the work. (Just so folks know, I had three kids ask me for copies of the biography packets today. I didn't have time to produce extras today, so they will be suffering Thursday night when they find themselves faced with 10+ pages of work (and art projects) to complete for the following morning.)
Thursday brings us a review of our current area of study for California. Students will be quizzed on the material on Friday.
I will collect California and Reading practice books to grade on Friday.
Students are responsible for the following work tonight:
-Reading Log
-Science packet pages 97 - 99 (98 & 99 were started in class)
-Reading practice book page 333
-library books are due Thursday morning
Respectfully, Mr. B
I handed out the conference forms for the students' biography reports today. I completely neglected to leave them with the sub, but the kids still have an ample amount of time to complete the work. (Just so folks know, I had three kids ask me for copies of the biography packets today. I didn't have time to produce extras today, so they will be suffering Thursday night when they find themselves faced with 10+ pages of work (and art projects) to complete for the following morning.)
Thursday brings us a review of our current area of study for California. Students will be quizzed on the material on Friday.
I will collect California and Reading practice books to grade on Friday.
Students are responsible for the following work tonight:
-Reading Log
-Science packet pages 97 - 99 (98 & 99 were started in class)
-Reading practice book page 333
-library books are due Thursday morning
Respectfully, Mr. B
Monday, March 26, 2007
Holy Discovery Channel!
I'm not one to promote tv, much less watch it, but you have got to take the time and effort to see the Discovery Channel's "Planet Earth" mini-series. It is stunning. And since we spent so much time covering biomes, etc., the kids should find some familiar ideas and themes running through the work. Last night's episode on "Mountains" segues into what we begin work on next week. Really, take the time and watch. It's Sunday nights, and I am sure a welcome alternative to "the Simpsons".
Kids should recall that their biography reports are due on Friday as well. Late work will be marked down ten percent per school day.
Have a good one, Mr. B
Kids should recall that their biography reports are due on Friday as well. Late work will be marked down ten percent per school day.
Have a good one, Mr. B
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